Arrests at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool: Here’s What We Actually Know
By Staff Writer
June 20, 2026
Washington, D.C. — The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has turned into quite the story this week. After a major renovation gave it a fresh patriotic blue look, the water suddenly turned bright green with algae. Then came reports of vandalism and arrests. Here’s what we actually know so far.
The Main Arrest
The most prominent person arrested is David Hearn, a 67-year-old former U.S. Olympic canoe racer from Bethesda, Maryland.
Hearn was on a long 64-mile bike ride when he stopped at the Reflecting Pool. Curious about the ongoing cleanup and the new blue sealant, he reached into the water to touch it. U.S. Park Police arrested him on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property. He spent around five hours in custody before being released and has a court date set for July 9.
Hearn says he wasn’t trying to cause any damage — he was simply checking things out while workers were dealing with the algae. Video footage from the scene appears to support his account, showing him near the cleanup crew.
Other Arrests and the Rumors
President Trump posted on social media that “multiple individuals” had been arrested for vandalizing the pool and that they could face serious jail time. There are reports of at least one other person being detained for allegedly tampering with the new sealant.
However, some of the more dramatic claims didn’t hold up. Stories about “two Antifa operatives” caught dumping buckets of algae into the pool started as satire and were quickly debunked. So far, there’s no credible evidence of organized political vandalism.
What Caused the Algae Bloom?
The pool recently underwent a $14+ million renovation that included a custom “American Flag Blue” sealant designed for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Once it was refilled, the shallow water and warm June weather triggered a fast-growing algae bloom — reportedly one of the bigger ones seen this time of year.
Workers have been using skimmers, hydrogen peroxide, and other treatments to clear the algae and repair spots where the liner came loose.
Overall, it seems like a maintenance issue that snowballed into a bigger controversy, with plenty of opinions flying around online.